Seating unit in an article of furniture

ABSTRACT

A seating unit in the form of a sectional sofa, couch or the like, which has a slidable and extendible member which when in retracted position is hidden from view to give the outward appearance of a conventional article of furniture but which when extended increases the length of same to provide increased seating capacity or permits its use as a bed.

11] 3,710,403 Jan. 16, 1973 United States Patent 1191 Weidner et al.

2,784,419 3/1957 Cimon....................................5/l8R 3,505,694 4/1970 Pasta............ ...........................;..s/17

54] SEATING UNIT IN AN ARTICLE OF FURNITURE [75] Inventors: Urban A. Weidner, Park Ridge, Ill.;

Nicholas Chaflich, Kaleva, Mich Primary ExaminerCasmir A. Nunberg Attorney-Max R. Kraus [73] Assignee: Mak-Kraft Creations, Inc., Chicago,

ABSTRACT [22] Filed: June 30, 1971 A seating unit in the form of a sectional sofa, couch or [21] App]. No.: 158,164 the like, which has a slidable and extendible member which when in retracted position is hidden from view to give the outward appearance of a conventional arti- Int. 17/14 Cle of furniture but which h n ext nd d incr ases References Cited [58] Field of Search................

the length of same to provide increased seating capacity or permits its use as a bed.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS PATENTEDJAH 16 1975 SHEET 1 [IF 2 hvvmroxes Urban A. Wezdrzer b Nzblzolas Charlie 9 {d4 %y SEATING UNIT IN AN ARTICLE OF FURNITURE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION normally hidden from view but which are slidable and extendible linearly from the end of the sofa to provide the increased length which provides additional seating space and also provides the length for use as a bed. Thus, the sofa is convertible to a longer sofa for either seating or sleeping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of furniture with the extendible members in retracted position.

FIG. 2 is a view similarto FIG. I but with the extendible member on the right in fully extended position and the one on the left partially extended due to space limitation of the drawing.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the cushion positioned on the extendible member so that it forms an extended seating unit or a bed.

FIG. 4 is a view looking at the inside of the arm of the extendible member.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2 with the extendible member fully extended.

FIG. 6 is a view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 2 with the extendible member partially extended.

While the invention herein is shown in connection with a pair of independent sectional sofas, one of which is integrated with an end table, it is not limited thereto but embraces within the inventive concept a single sofa or couch or seating unit which incorporates the extendible member or unit whereby when the extendible member is in retracted position the sofa, couch or seating unit has its initial length, but when the extendible member is in its extended position its length is increased so that it serves as an extended sofa, couch or seating unit, or as a bed.

Referring specifically to the article of furniture shown in the drawings for illustration purposes only, there is shown a sectional sofa I0 provided at one end thereof with an end table 12 which may, if desired, be integrally formed with said sectional sofa. Also shown positioned at right angles thereto is another sectional sofa 14 which is a separate and independent unit. The two sectional sofas may be positioned linearly with respect to each other or may be positioned in any other desired arrangement. In lieu of sectional sofas, other types of seating units or couches may be used with this invention. The term seating unit wherever used shall embrace all of the foregoing without limitation.

Since the invention herein is the same whether it is applied to either sectional sofa or 14, it will be described with respect to sectional sofa 14, said description to be equally applicable to sectional sofa I0 which will be identified by the same reference numerals, or to any couch, sofa, love seat or seating unit.

.The normal seating portion of the sectional sofa is indicated by the numeral 11. This comprises the seating unit when the slidable member, to be described, is in retracted position. Sectional sofa or seating unit 14 comprises a support or frame of generally rectangular shape, generally indicated at 16, formed of wood or other material. The frame 16 forms the baseof the sofa and has a pair of spaced longitudinally extending front and rear members 18 connected at their opposite ends by spaced cross end members or cross braces 20 and 22. The inner end of cross brace 22 is of a reduced height.

Secured adjacent the bottom of the longitudinal front and rear members 18 are longitudinally extending strips which form the guide rails 24 for supporting and guiding the extendible or slidable member 26, to be described. A panel 28 of plywood or the like is secured to the top of the longitudinal front and rear members 18 and the cross braces 20 and 22. Secured to the iongitudinal front and rear members 18 at the end adjacent cross brace 22 is a cross member 30, the top of which is on the same plane as the top of the guide rails 24. Thus, a hollow compartment 32 is formed in the base structure which is substantially the length and width of the seating unit and this :serves as the storage space for the slidable and extendible member 26 when in fully retracted position. Feet 34 are secured to the bottom of the frame member at the four corners thereof to support the base frame from the floor surface. The feet may be provided with rollers if desired.

Spacedly secured to the cross member 30 is a pair of angle irons 36 which serves as stops to limit the extended position of the slidable and extendible member 26. A space 38 is provided between the bottom of cross brace 22 and the top of cross member 30 to accommodate the extendible member 26. The slidable and extendible member 26 includes a frame of rectangular shape, generally indicated at 40, having spaced longitudinally extending members 42 connected at their'opposite ends by cross members 44 and 46. A panel 48 made of plywood or the like is secured to the longitudinal members 42 and cross members 44 and 46.

An arm, generally indicated at 50, is secured to the outer end of the extendible memlber. Said arm comprises a vertical side panel 52, to the top of which is secured a horizontal strip 54 which forms the arm rest to which is secured adownwardly extending strip 55 .spaced from the side panel 52 of the arm. The

downwardly extending strip 55 is of a reduced height to provide a pocket or recess 56 to accommodate the ends of the pillows, to be described. Secured to the bottom of the cross member 46 is a cross strip 58. Legs 60 are The angle irons 36 which are connected to cross member 30 will be engaged by the cross member 44 of the slidable member to limit the outward or extended position of the slidable member, as best seen in FIG. 5. As seen in said FIGURE and in the extended position shown in FIG. 2, the length of the sectional sofa is substantially double the length of the seating section 11 when the extendible member 26 is in its extended position. With this increased length it can be used for additional seating capacity or for a bed.

If, for example, the seating unit 11 is combined with the end table 12 as an integral unit, the base frame that supports the end table and seating unit is longer than the seating unit per se and this lengthened base frame can be used to support a longer extendible and slidable member, similar to 26, to thereby provide a longer extended unit.

For the purpose of clarity, all fabric coverings and foam or other padding has been eliminated, it being understood that the base frame is suitably covered by a fabric and that the arm is likewise covered by a fabric with some padding, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4.

In the normal retracted position of the extendible member 26 as shown in FIG. 1, the arm 50 is positioned adjacent the end of the sectional sofa. The frame 40 of the extendible member 26 is wholly confined within the base frame 16 and is hidden from view. The appearance of the sectional sofa in such a condition is similar to a conventional sectional sofa.

The sectional sofa has a padded and upholstered cushion 62 which rests on the top of the panel 28 of the frame and said cushion is normally an integral part of the sectional sofa, although it may be removed if desired. Removably positioned on the top of cushion 62 is an upholstered and padded cushion 64. When the cushion 64 is positioned on cushion 62, as shown in FIG. 1, the outer ends 62 and 64 of the respective cushions will when the slidable member is in retracted position be confined in the recessed portion 56 of the arm 50 to provide a conventional appearance to the unit.

When the extendible unit 26 is extended, as shown on the right side of FIGS. 2 and 3, or in FIG. 5, the removable cushion 64 is placed on the extendible member 26, and since the removable cushion 64 has a thickness greater than cushion 62, the level of the tops of the two cushions will be the same, as shown in FIG. 3, to provide a continuous seating or sleeping surface. When in extended position the end 64' of the removable cushion 64 will be positioned within the recess 56 of the arm 50. Thus, a conventional appearing sectional sofa, couch or seating unit may be readily converted to an extended unit in a minimum of time and with minimum effort. The slidable member 26 is easily slidable with a minimum of physical effort.

Also shown in FIG. 1 are padded and upholstered backs 66 which rest on the sectional sofa and are readily removable therefrom if same is converted to a bed.

While the invention is here illustrated with an arm 50 having a recess 56 for accommodating the pillows, it will be understood that it is not so restricted, since the extendible member 26 may be made without an arm if so desired and, also, if an arm is used it may be made in a conventional form without a recess so that the end of the pillow 64 abuts against the flat inner side of the arm without fitting into a recess in the arm as shown.

What IS claimed is:

1. An article of furniture comprising a stationary support frame and an end table adjacent one end of said support frame and being an integral part of said support frame, said support frame forming a stationary seating section, an extendible member normally positioned relative to said stationary seating section as to be positioned within said stationary seating section and hidden from view, said extendible member moving laterally from said stationary seating section to extend adjacent the opposite free end of the seating section to form an extension thereof, said extendible member having an arm adjacent the free end thereof, said extendible member cooperating with said seating section to form a longer seating area or to be used as a bed, a separate and removable back member having a length between the inner end of the end table and the free end of the stationary seating section, said removable back member positioned on said stationary seating section when said extendible member is positioned within said stationary seating section so that it forms a back rest for said stationary seating section and removable therefrom when said extendible member is extended to serve as a bed.

2. An article of furniture as set forth in claim 1 in which the seating section supports a removable cushion which is normally positioned on the seating section when the extendible member is in retracted position and positioned on the extendible member when the extendible member is in extended position, with the top of the cushion being on the same plane as the top of the seating section.

3. An article of furniture as set forth in claim 2 in which the top of the end table extends above the top of the stationary seating section.

4. An article of furniture as set forth in claim 3 in which the top of the end table extends above the top of the stationary seating section.

5. An article of furniture as set forth in claim'2 in which the arm has a recess to accommodate the removable cushion. 

1. An article of furniture comprising a stationary support frame and an end table adjacent one end of said support frame and being an integral part of said support frame, said support frame forming a stationary seating section, an extendible member normally positioned relative to said stationary seating section as to be positioned within said stationary seating section and hidden from view, said extendible member moving laterally from said stationary seating section to extend adjacent the opposite free end of the seating section to form an extension thereof, said extendible member having an arm adjacent the free end thereof, said extendible member cooperating with said seating section to form a longer seating area or to be used as a bed, a separate and removable back member having a length between the inner end of the end table and the free end of the stationary seating section, said removable back member positioned on said stationary seating section when said extendible member is positioned within said stationary seating section so that it forms a back rest for said stationary seating section and removable therefrom when said extendible member is extended to serve as a bed.
 2. An article of furniture as set forth in claim 1 in which the seating section supports a removable cushion which is normally positioned on the seating section when the extendible member is in retracted position and positioned on the extendible member when the extendible member is in extended position, with the top of the cushion being on the same plane as the top of the seating section.
 3. An article of furniture as set forth in claim 2 in which the top of the end table extends above the top of the stationary seating section.
 4. An article of furniture as set forth in claim 3 in which the top of the end table extends above the top of the stationary seating section.
 5. An article of furniture as set forth in claim 2 in which the arm has a recess to accommodate the removable cushion. 